David J. Schmidly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 20th President of the University of New Mexico | |
| In office 2007–2012 | |
| Preceded by | David W. Harris |
| Succeeded by | Robert G. Frank |
| 17th President of Oklahoma State University | |
| In office 2003–2007 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Halligan |
| Succeeded by | V. Burns Hargis |
| 13th President of Texas Tech University | |
| In office 2000–2003 | |
| Preceded by | Donald R. Haragan |
| Succeeded by | Jon Whitmore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 20, 1943 |
| Spouse | Janet Schmidly |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Texas Tech University (BS, MS) University of Illinois (Ph.D.) |
David James Schmidly (born December 20, 1943) is an American academic administrator and zoologist who served as president of Texas Tech University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of New Mexico. On April 22, 2011, Schmidly announced his decision to retire as UNM's President at the end of his five-year contract in 2012, citing health concerns and his desire to end his career working in his academic field of natural history and mammalogy.
Previously, Schmidly served as chief executive officer and 17th president of the Oklahoma State University System (2003–2007). Before coming to OSU, he was the President of Texas Tech University (2000-2003), where he also served as Vice President for Research and Dean of the graduate school. His administrative career began at Texas A&M University where he served as Head of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (1986-1992) and campus dean and chief executive officer of Texas A&M at Galveston (1992-1996).
A native of Levelland, Texas and an accomplished zoologist, he earned his B.S. and M.S. in zoology at Texas Tech University,[1] where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, and his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Illinois. He has been inducted into the Texas Hall of Fame for Science, Mathematics and Technology and has had two species of mice named for him: Peromyscus schmidlyi and Habromys schmidlyi. Schmidly was elected as an Honorary Member of the American Society of Mammalogists in 2003 and the Mexican Society of Mammalogists in 2010. In 2012 he was named Distinguished Alumnus of Texas Tech University and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois.
- ^ Chadd Cripe, Brian Murphy (23 May 2010), Meet the Mountain West presidents who may decide Boise State's future, Idaho Statesman